Voters elect 2 young leaders to top spots in Gwich'in Tribal Council

Two young leaders are now at the helm of the Gwich'in Tribal Council, after voters opted for change during Monday's election.

Bobbie Jo Greenland-Morgan, 39, was elected the new president of the council — the first woman to ever hold the position. She also took the win by a wide margin and against two seasoned leaders.

• Bobbie Jo Greenland-Morgan elected new president of Gwich'in Tribal Council

"It just means a great deal to me, not only to be elected, but to know that I'm the first female elected president," she said in an interview this week.

Greenland-Morgan says she has a lot of experience working in Aboriginal, municipal, territorial and federal governments and she's well positioned to take on the job.

"I know it'll be a challenge, but I'm confident. I'm confident because I believe in my people. There's some division and there's some things I know we need to work out, but I'm confident we can do that."

She also points to the support she has in the community and across the territory, including her good working relationships with N.W.T.'s premier and member of Parliament.

"I'm not discouraged or worried because I know when challenges come up, which I know they will, that many former presidents and chiefs are just a phone call away," she said.

"For myself, I rely back on our former leaders. They're willing to help us and they are there for us, and I think that's the way it should be."

29-year-old vice-president

Jordan Peterson was elected the new vice president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council in Monday's vote. The 29-year-old believes he may be the youngest person to hold the position.

Whether he won or lost, he was hoping to be a role model to other Indigenous youth.

"I hope, at least, that my story and that how far I've been able to come in my 29 years is an inspiration to so many others," Peterson said.

He said he didn't focus on his youth during his campaign, something he said voters didn't expect.

"I think they were kind of surprised as to how much I knew about the [land] claim, how educated I was in terms of a lot of the work that's been going on."'

• Young Gwich'in woman champion of her language

Greenland-Morgan says it was young people, like her own seven-year-old daughter, that inspired her to run.

"We as leaders are setting an example to our younger generation. They are watching us," she said.

"We can and should be only getting stronger in moving forward, so that we're all working together for the betterment of all our people."

Peterson said voters were interested in how new leadership could bring the organization into the communities more and get more young people involved and informed about the work the council is doing, such as self-government, economic development, and social programming.

Both of the new leaders say communicating with their people is a priority over their four-year term.